Flood toll in E Indonesia rises to 29

Flash floods in West Papua in easternmost of Indonesia killed 29 people and seriously injured 60 others, an official said here on Tuesday.

Spokesman of the Health Ministry Tri Tarayati said that that poor access to the scene through land transport has led the rescuers to use helicopters to evacuate the survivors.

The floods at Teluk Wondama district has collapsed many trees on the street, spokesman of the National Disaster Management Agency Priyadi Kadono said.

Coordinator of rescue at the local Search and Rescue Office Muhammad Arifin said that the number of casualty was expected to rise as there were some bodies still buried under the deep mud.

"Lack of heavy machinery equipment hampers rescuers to find those buried under the mud," he told Xinhua by phone from Sorong of Papua.

One Navy war ship carrying logistics, medicine and personnel had been dispatched to the scene, he said.

The health ministry had also sent logistics, drugs and medical personnel to help the survivors of the natural disaster, the spokesman said.

"We have sent 12 doctors from the nearby town, one ton of medicine, 1 ton of baby foods and funds," Tarayati said.

The flood also destroyed dozens of houses, according to Kardono.

Floods and landslides frequently happen in Indonesia particularly during the wet season, which annually and regularly takes places from December to April, but for this year it occurs longer.

Source: Xinhua